Skip to main content

Sarah Shorter Hunter commonplace book

 Collection
Identifier: W-0019
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Shorter began this book as a young, unmarried woman in the 1830s. She used an album, printed by J. C. Riker, New York, that contains several prints of primarily New York-related engravings. The book contains recipes, poetry, quotations, notes from friends and family, and news clippings.

She numbered the ninety-nine pages and included an index to the recipes. Examples of dishes and household items include beer, fried eggplant, tea cakes, numerous puddings (apple, potato, transparent, boiled, and others), milk toast, baked tomatoes, and cologne.

The only recorded date is 1835, but the book contains clippings from the 1890s.

Dates

  • Creation: approximately 1835-1894

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

Sarah Elizabeth Shorter was born in Georgia around 1814. The daughter of Reuben C. and Mary Shorter, Sarah and her family moved to Eufaula, Alabama, around 1837. She married John L. Hunter, and they had two daughters: Sarah and Mary. John Hunter died in 1847. Sarah's date of death is unclear.

Extent

0.05 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Commonplace book of Eufaula, Alabama, resident containing handwritten recipes, poems, quotations, and notes. In addition, the book includes a small number of newspaper clippings.

Physical Location

The A .S. Williams III Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama

Provenance

Gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010

Materials Specific Details

The book is in poor condition. The front cover and first several pages have torn away from the rest of the book.

General

Title on spine: Manuscript Cookbook compiled by Sarah Shorter of Eufaula 1833

Source

Title
Guide to Sarah Shorter Hunter commonplace book
Status
Completed
Date
August 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513